Experts cite urban design gaps, decentralised waste management and poor drainage as key causes of Selangor’s waste and flood woes
PETALING JAYA: Urban design limitations, fragmented waste management systems and outdated drainage infrastructure are among the factors contributing to waste disposal and flood challenges in Selangor, experts said.
Universiti Teknologi Mara urban and town planning expert Dr Noraini Omar Chong said recurring refuse problems were not due to waste collection issues alone, as solid waste management in Selangor remains decentralised and handled by local councils rather than under a long-term federal concession model.
“For Selangor, Penang and several other states, solid waste management has not been placed under the federal concession system. It is still managed by local authorities and the state government, which is why issues related to contractor changes occur,” she told theSun via phone.
Noraini said the absence of long-term concession arrangements meant contractors were appointed through shorter cycles, increasing the likelihood of disruptions during transitions.
“This does not mean that the federal model is necessarily better, but it explains why contractor changes happen more frequently. The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation is currently studying the strengths and weaknesses of both systems.
“Domestic waste is the largest contributor. That is why door-to-door collection becomes problematic. What is more important is reducing waste generation and implementing source separation.”
Noraini said states that have adopted source separation practices, including scheduled collection of wet and recyclable waste, showed more structured waste flows, adding that over-reliance on public bins could reinforce littering behaviour.
“From a planning perspective, we encourage fewer bins, not more. Waste is generated by individuals, and behaviour and mindset play a big role.”
She also pointed to smart city initiatives, such as sensor-equipped bins that emit a signal when they are full, as one way to improve collection efficiency, citing pilot implementations in Putrajaya.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia environmental and water systems researcher Assoc Prof Dr Nor Eliza Alias said her research showed that waste accumulation in drains increased significantly with population growth and was a major contributor to flash floods.
